Tag Archive: love

10 minutes into a movie we watched on TV last night, called ‘Hot Chick’, Sam asked; “Which one’s supposed to be hot?”

I pointed out the slender blonde with the beautiful face and he shook his head. I was confused, it was obviously her. One of those teen Hollywood movies about the nasty cheerleader who learns what it means to be a decent human being, there was little room for ambiguity.

“Well, she’s not very nice but..”

He nodded “and that’s why she’s not hot”

“Oh, okay”

We kept watching the movie.

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Yes. Yes it is. Tomorrow Andy and Sam will be far from home, playing more sport and they decided collectively that instead of missing out or panicking to rush home for the last hours of the day, that we’d have Mother’s Day a day early.

In fact, for me, Mother’s Day began even earlier than that.

Friday afternoon there were no computers, video games or ipads in evidence. We sat together while they practised guitar, we talked, hugged, created games to play over dinner and were generally present with each other. At dinner, we ate and played a game which probably already has a name but which I’m going to call Persuasion, since it was designed after doing persuasive text stuff with Zac.

We wrote statements on pieces of paper, folded them, put them in a bowl and then while we ate, chose them one at a time, randomly. Zac and I were one team, Sam and Andy the other and the idea was for one side to be ‘for’ and the other ‘against’ the statement, whatever it might be.

They included ‘The Moon Actually Is Made Of Cheese’, ‘Dinosaurs Aren’t Real’, ‘The World Is Actually Flat’, and ‘Football Was Invented By Hedgehogs’.

It was all fun and games until Zac accidentally put tabasco sauce in his eye and the debate came to an abrupt end….

He was fine after a thorough eye rinse and hand wash and the rest of the evening was gentle and nice.

Then this morning, I was woken by both my boys and led, eyes closed, to the table. When I opened my eyes, it was to see the three of them smiling and a table laden with beautiful fruit, steaming mugs of coffee, fresh juice and various pastries. I knew Andy must have got up early and gone shopping.

The little bowls in front of each place were the beautiful blue and orange ones I’d seen and loved a few days ago.

The date’s wrong, obviously…

Zac brought out the presents he’d bought at the mother’s day stall at school, a pretty bookmark and some bath balls and after breakfast, they ran me a bath and left me to relax and sing until I felt like getting out.

In a few minutes, we’ll take a drive to a restaurant by the water and have lunch.

This time to a sports event, which will take us out of town for a few days and this time, Zac and I will be foraging for ourselves. I’m also giving my love of cooking free reign as I make things for Andy to eat while we’re not here.

Dishes I won’t make when I’m going to be eating too, or just delicious, aromatic things that satisfy an urge when they’re sizzling, or stewing, or crisping. Getting lost in flavours and textures, smells and the visual pleasures of working with food.

So far there’s a soft, salty, sharply cheesy Bacon and Chicken Pasta, packed into a container for the fridge. Then a thick, rich tomatoe-y Moroccan Lamb, redolent with spices, to be served with a portion of soft buttery couscous.

What else? Oh, next will come a silky peanut-y Thai Chicken Satay, savoury with just a hint of chilli and sweetness, topped with fresh Thai basil and served with rice.

Peanut Satay Chicken with Thai basil

Then finally, a simple all in one Roast, ready to pop into the oven, with pre-marinated chicken thighs and pieces of potato, red onion, pumpkin, parsnip and carrot. All sprinkled with fresh rosemary and lovingly daubed with crushed garlic.

Just Mmmmmmm!

Who knows what Zac and I will be eating on our adventure, while Sam billets with his team. I’ll be taking my ubiquitous porridge and we’ll buy fruit for the motel room but beyond that, we’ll be exploring!

(I’ll research before we go of course, and there’ll be plenty of opportunity to walk :-))